Russia and India sign action plan on new projects

05 October 2018

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Russia and India have agreed to work together to increase the level of Indian localisation in a project to build six nuclear units at a new site in India. The Action Plan for Prioritisation and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field was signed today on the sidelines of the 19th India-Russia Bilateral Summit in New Delhi.

Putin and Modi in New Delhi on 5 October (Image: Prime Minister of India)

According to the document, which was signed by Alexey Likhachov, head of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, and Kamlesh Vyas, chairman of India's Department of Atomic Energy, the new-build project will reference evolutionary VVER generation 3+ technical solutions with increased involvement from Indian industry. The agreement also covers the two countries' intent to enhance nuclear cooperation in "third countries" and in "new perspective" nuclear technologies, with joint construction of nuclear power plants, Rosatom said. No site was named for the six new reactors.

Two Russian-designed V-491 VVER units, of 1000 MWe (gross) capacity each, are under construction at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu, and two V-412 VVER units are already in operation at the site with a third phase of two more reactors planned. Likhachev said the company expects to start the serial construction of new units at a second site in India "in the near future", with increased equipment localisation within framework of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' policy. "Moreover, India is our trusted partner, with whom we are already implementing projects in the third countries, and we plan to enhance this cooperation," he said.

In a joint statement following the bilateral summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Modi said civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries was an "an important component of strategic partnership" contributing to India’s energy security and commitments under the Paris climate change agreement. They noted the progress achieved in the Kudankulam construction project as well as the efforts being made in the localisation of component manufacturing, and expressed "satisfaction" at the signing of the new action plan.

Russia, Bangladesh and India in March signed a memorandum on cooperation in the implementation of Bangladesh's first nuclear power plant, Rooppur, which is currently under construction. That document set a framework for the interaction of the Russian contractor JSC Atomstroyexport, Indian and Bangladeshi experts in the implementation of works related to the project, with scope for Indian companies to be involved in construction and installation works, and the supply of materials and certain equipment.